Sports

Brush Boys Now 2-0 After Home Victory over Rams

Brush senior Mitch Tormohlen goes up for the tip to ignite the Beetdiggers first home game of the season where Brush defeated Akron 71-66. (by KATIE COLLINS, Writer/Photographer, Brush News-Tribune.)

After kicking off the season with a win over Sheridan, the Brush boys basketball squad hosted their first home game of the season at BHS on Saturday evening against the 2A No. 7 ranked Akron Rams and for fans of both squads, the non-league action did not disappoint.After a nail-biting area rivalry bout, Brush posted the 71-66 win, taking their record to 2-0.

Although the Rams managed to ignite the scoreboard with the first points of the match, Brush swiftly answered back with a junior effort that included a Ben Mickey free throw, followed by a Trae Cranson three-point shot.Akron responded with a lay-up that tied the bout at 4.The first period of play saw the ‘Diggers display cool and collected court vision and sound ball handling that culminated in a 16-10 lead, however the Rams proved relentless and managed to take the game to a tight 14-13 Brush lead to end the inaugural quarter.

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Sophomore Austin Garcia would net two three-point shots for Brush during the second period and junior Jake Brown would add his own long shot to aid a sharp ‘Digger lead.With junior Bryce Needens netting his own sweet shots and senior Mitch Tormohlen and sophomore Kyle Rosenbrock posting strong rebounds and points of their own from the boards, Brush managed to scrape out a 35-29 lead to end the half, despite allowing a 24-24 tie with just over three minutes to go before the break.

Brush sophomore forward Kyle Rosenbrock sinks in a layup over the Rams during the Beetdiggers 71-66 win at BHS on Saturday, December 1. (by KATIE COLLINS, Writer/Photographer, Brush News-Tribune.)

The second half proved another physical battle between the area rivals, and junior Randy Baker managed to throw in enough lay-ups and steals to send Brush over Akron 52-45 as the final frame began.

6’1 Akron junior Brady Baer swooshed in a wealth of three-point shots that put Akron up 58-59, but Brush managed to tie it up at 60 after another stealthy Baker steal, followed by the dish to Rosenbrock with just over three nail-biting minutes remaining.

Baker would pick up enough fouls from the Rams to put him on the line enough to earn 7 of 10 free throws and become the leading Brush scorer of the night with 13 points, but a tenacious Rams squad kept coming backJunior Geoffrey Dunker managed to put in one of Baker’s shots off the rebound to help Brush keep a 63-60 distance and a Rosenbrock steal-turned-lay-up earned Brush a 67-61 lead with under a minute to go.Baer would continue his hot streak, sinking a three-point shot that crept the Rams up 67-64 but Brush allowed just two more Akron points before taking the final 71-66

Brush head coach Ken Garcia noted in a 1010KSIR radio interview pre-game that the depth of his bench would prove vital as the team readies for Patriot League play, noting, “I’ve told the team, if I could start all of you I would, but I can only start five.”“We want to play a full court game and we have plenty of people on the bench,” he continued, “so if I see somebody tired we have people to rotate in and we’re going to need that down the road.”

Garcia also gave words of advice while reminding his squad, “It’s not about how tall you are, it’s how hard you want the ball.”

With a win over Merino and subsequent loss to Brush, the Rams now sit on a 1-1 record, while the Beetdiggers kick off their early season at 2-0.

The Brush JV also posted a second-season win, earning a 67-22 victory over Akron earlier that Saturday afternoon.

The Brush boys will take their C, JV and varsity squads to Wiggins next for a Wednesday, December 5 county match-up that will be the first game of the season for the 2A Tigers.Tip-off for that game is slated for 4:00 p.m. for the JV, with C team action set for 5:30 and varsity to start at 7:00 p.m.

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